Lubricant containing a lithium compound



Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUBRICANT CONTAINING ALITHIUM COMPOUND Clarence E. Earle, Washington, D. C.

No Drawing.

Application November 4, 1940, Serial No. 364,247

7 Claims. (Cl. 252-42) This invention relates to lubricatingcompositions containing compounds of lithium and more particularly tolubricants having a resin or nondrying vegetable oil base, whichlubricants are particularly adapted for heavy duty.

It is the object of this invention to produce lubricants havingdesirable properties for high temperature use and in particular forservice as chain and cable lubricants.

My copending application, Ser. No. 328,095, filed April 5, 1940,discloses the highly beneficial results arising from incorporatinglithium soaps of the higher fatty acids in lubricating oils, both inmineral and in non-drying vegetable oils.

I have found that the use of lithium soap or salts of soap forminghigher fatty acids in the production of lubricating greases gives thegreases entirely different properties from those obtained by the use ofthe other alkali metal salts. The greases produced by my method arewater resistant, whereas the other alkali salts do not give such aproperty. My lithium soap :greases withstand temperatures greatly inexcess of those containing other alkali metal salts. The properties ofthese improved lubricating greases are not only widely different fromthe other alkali metal soap types, but also they are much more stable totemperature and pressure, both chemically and Physically.

Several lithium compounds have been incorporated in various types ofresins; as well as in different oils, the lithium compounds beingpreferably soaps of the higher fatty acids having an average molecularweight of 277. Certain chlorinated compounds such as chlorinateddiphenyl and chlorinated diphenyl oxide have been used as a base intowhich the lithium soaps were incorporated. For the particular usementioned, namely, superior chain and cable lubricants, the quantity oflithium soap used was 18%. However,it will be apparent to those skilledin the art that different .percentages of a soap will be employed toobtain varying desired consistencies.

Not only have the lithium soaps been formed and introduced as such intoan oil, but the soap has been produced in the oil by introducing-lithiumcompounds that hydrolize and simultaneously saponify a portion of theconstituents of the oil itself so that the soap is formed in the oil. Asan example, I have found that jojobo oil derived from the edible seed ofSimmonsia californica, when so treated gives a grease-like substance ofa relatively stiif consistency and excellent thixotropic and lubricatingproperties. This composition has an unusually high resistance to heat,its lubricating properties being retained at temperatures in excess of400 F. While accurate determinations have not been made, it is estimatedthat the resulting lithium soap constituted about 8% of the total.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government of the United States of America forgovernmental purposes without the payment "of any royalties thereon ortherefor.

I claim:

1. A lubricating composition, comprising chlorinated diphenyl and about18% of a lithium soap having an average molecular weight of 277.

2. A lubricating composition, comprising chlorinated diphenyl and alithium soap having an average molecular weight of 277 suflicient in iquantity substantially to thicken said chlorinated diphenyl.

3. A lubricating composition, comprising chlorinated diphenyl oxide andabout 18% of a lithium soap having an average molecular weight of 2'77.

4.'A lubricating composition, comprising chlorinated diphenyl oxide anda lithium soap having an average molecular weight of 277 sufficient inquantity substantially to thicken said chlorinated diphenyl oxide.

5. A lubricating composition, comprising at least one substance from thegroup consisting of chlorinated diphenyl and chlorinated diphenyl oxide,and lithium soap of an average molecular weight of 277 suflicient inquantity substantially to thicken said diphenyl.

6. A lubricating composition, comprising jojobo oil and about 8% of alithium soap.

7. A lubricating composition, comprising jojobo oil and suflicientlithium soap substantially to thicken said oil.

- CLARENCE E. EARLE.

